Punching and notching machine



Sept. 11, 1956 s usz 2,762,434

PUNCHING AND NOTCI-IING MACHINE Tiled Dec. 4, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Q Q INVENTOR moor F, shz/sz irram irs Se t. 11, 1956 T. F. SMUSZ PUNCI-IING AND NOTCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7-way F, .5/71/52 BY WW Se t. 11, 1956 1'. F. sMusz. 2,762,434

PUNCHING AND NOTCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 017) F, SAW/5; BY

Sept. 11, 1956 T. F. sMusz PUNCHING AND NOTCHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1955 INVENTOR United States Patent V PUNCHING AND N OTCHING MACHINE.

Teddy F. Smusz, Athens, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Royal McBee Corporation, a corporation of New York Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,140

'8 Claims. (Cl. 164- 412) This invention relates to machines for punching, and

notching edge portions of record cards whereby the cards may be coded for classification, sorting and other pur poses.

The invention particularly relates to a machine of the character disclosed in Patent No. 2,035,777, dated- March 31, 1936, and involves improvements thereon whereby a I single set of punches may be operated selectively to cut apertures, or coding notches, or both, in the course of a complete cutting cycle.

It is among the objects'of the present invention to provide a card notching and punching machine operable through a two stroke cycle for punching notches and/or apertures in coding relation along an edge of a card.

Another object is to provide a card notching and punching machine provided with means whereby the position of a card may be shifted between successive strokes 3 of a two stroke cycle for cutting away portions o'fi acard in diiierent relationship to the edge of. the card.-

Another object is to provide a machine of the character described, provided with a single set of punches; arranged to be independently activated for operation to cut notches,

or to punch apertures, or to out both notches and apertures-along an edge of a card in predetermined arrangement.

A further object is to provide a machine inwhich-pro- .vision is made for activating selected punchesfor operaand for automatically withdrawing the supporting. means to permit the card to drop to a lower posit-ion between successive cutting strokes of the punches.

It is also among the objects of the invention-to provide improved features of construction, arrangement and operpunching apertures V ation, adapted to simplify the construction and operation of the device, and to provide a machine pendable and efiicient character. Y The invention has other objects and features-of advantage, some of which with the foregoing Willhe-explained in the following description of that form of the invention illustrated in the drawings. It is. to be understood that the invention is not limited to the emhodirhent shown in the drawings as it may be otherwise embodied within the-definition of theappended claims;

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is aplan view of a machine embodying the-present invention. j

.Fig. 2' is a detail view showing the relationship of'tlie of y demain drive connections of the machine as viewed'irithe fiirectionindicated-bytheIineZ- Z' of Fig:1 I v -with means for supporting a by selected punches. Provision is made for activating 2,762,434 Piatented S p 1955 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by v he line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is a-fragmental sectional view showingithe man'- ner in which selected punches are activated for notch cutting operation.

Fig.5 is a fragmentai sectional view showingtheirelationshipof the-parts operable for controlling. the motor drive connections. V

Fig 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing. the relationship of the:punch activating andactuating: means and related parts as positioned near the end of the first" cuttingstroke of-a notch cutting cycl Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional view fll'owirigtheman- .ner in which a card is cut by the fi st cutting-stroke, the plane of the section being-indicated: by the line 7- 7 of Fig. .6. 1

Fig. dis a view similar to-Fig. .6, but showing the-parts in the positions occupied at the-start of the" second cutting stroke of a cycle; a

I Fig. 9 is a f-ragmental sectional view, similar'to Fig. 7, but showing the manner in which the'card is cut by punchesactivated for operation during the second cutting stroke of acycle. 1

Fig. lO is a fragmental viewof a portion: of acard showing. the. manner in which apertures may be punched therein without notching.

v Fig.- 11 is afragmental view of a'po'rtionwof a card having coding notches cut therein without apertures.

.Fig. 12' is a schematic illustration of how oscillation of one shaft controls rot-ation of another.

Interms of broad inclusion, the notching. and punching machine ofthe' present invention comprises a plurality of :punchesmounted in association with a die provided card in position tohe cut selected. punches for operation through a two stroke cycle ;-to cut notches in the edge ofa card, the posit-iono'f the cardbeing;shiftedbetween successive strokes of the cycle so that, on the first stroke,-

Second stroke cut the notch to a greater depth after the the activated puncheseach cut a shallow notch in the edge of the card, and atthe card has been shifted to its second cutting position. Provision is also made for activatingother punches independently'of the first activating; means, for selective-oper- 1 ationthrough a single cutting cyclegcoincident with the second stroke ofthe two stroke notch cutting cycle of operation; The punches activated' 'by the second activating means are operable topunch apertures in the card at points where punches are not activated for th'e'notchi'ng operation. The mechanism is motor driven throu'gh a full cutting cycle in substantially the manner illustrated and described in theab'ove mentioned 'Patent Noi 2,035,777, provision being made for operating the" motor drive through the two full cutting strokes ofIth'e two stroke cy'cle, herein contemplated, and for interrupting the" operation at the completion of the second stroke;

in terms of greater detail, the machine of the present invention comprises amain housing. designated in general by the numeral 1, substantially enclosing" the punch mechanism and the means-for selectively activating and operating the punches. Upon: one end of the main housing 1 .there is mounted a motor .drive housing 2",. const'ituting an extension of the main housing; and enclosing amo'tor and motor ,controlmechanism of the character illustrated and described in'Patent N0- 2,035,777. Since the motor and the switch mechanism by which the motor is energized to operate the. punch mechanism through-a cycle ot operation, and by which the operation of the m'otoris interrupted at the completion of the ,cyele,-ha s beenfuIIy' disclosed in said patent, a detailed description of such mech nism is herein unn cessary andh s be i 'omitted'.-'

For purposes of'the present invention, the motor drive I the mounting rod 29 by means of connecting links 36 unit includes a main motor driven shaft 3 on which is H pin 5 at one end. At its opposite end the link 6 is connected to a crank arm 7, secured to a crank shaft 8 extending longitudinally across thernain housing 1 with the ends of the shaft 8 journalled in the ends of the main housing 1, in any suitable manner. Switch'control mechanism is mounted in association with the main motor driven shaft 3 as disclosed in Patent No. 2,035,777 to interrupt the operation of the motor drive upon the completion of a prescribed cycle of cutting operation. In the present invention the cycle comprises two cutting strokes of the crank arm 7 and two full rotations of the main shaft 3, as opposed to a single stroke operation as described in said patent."

- A plurality of punches designated in general by the numeral 11 areslidably mounted for reciprocating movement within a die member 12 mounted in longitudinally extending position between the ends of the main housing 1. The punches 11 are slidably movable in-openings 13 formed in the die 12. Reduced extensions 14 upon the inner ends of the punches 11 extend'th'rough corresponding guide openings 15in the die, and into corresponding openings 16 in a die plate 17 forming apart of thedie assembly. The die plate 17 is spaced from the main body of the die 12 to provide a slot 18 into which a card .19 may be introduced and positioned to be out through by the punches 11. I

The die plate 17 is originally correctly positioned in aligned condition with respectto the die 12 by screws 21 and 22 mounted in association with a die reinforcing bar mounted in association with the die. .the die assembly is positionedin vertical alignment with an inwardly extending chute formed by flanges 23 and 24 converging downwardly from the top of the housing 1 toward the die assembly. The chute,which is designated The slot 18 of in general by the numeral 25, extends longitudinally across the motor drive housing 2 as well as the main housing 1, as best indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A stop 26 is slidably mounted within the chute 25, and is adjustably secured at any desired position along the chute die 12.

. The punches 11 are actuated by punch bars 28 mounted movement, upon a punch bar mounting shaft .29 extending longitudinally between the ends of the main housing 1, parallel to the die assembly 12 and in a position above and slightly forwardly therefrom. The mounting rod 29 extends through elongated openings 30 in the upper ends of the bars 28 so that the bars may rock freely, in planes normal tothe die assembly in line with the punches 11 with which they are associated, whether in raised 'or lowered position.

Each punch bar 28 is provided with a recess 31 shaped to admit the forward end of the associated punch ,11 including an upwardly extending finger 32 extending upwardly at the forward end of the punch. A lip 33 is formed upon the inner edge of each punch bar 28, in downwardly projecting position over the upper portion of the recess 31, to overhang the finger 32 of the associated punch. The recesses 31 are so shaped that, when the punch bars hang in their normal lowermost position upon the mounting rod '29, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the bar 28 may swing over the punch 11 withto provide an abutment defining the cutting position of a card with respect to the length of the chute 25 and pivotally connected at one end to a pivot pin 37, carried in fixed position between the ends of the main housing '1.

At its outer end, each key lever 41 is'provided with a stud 40 pivotally engaging a lateral extension 43 upon the lower end of an actuating key 44 extending upwardly through the top of the main housing 1 and provided with a button 46 by which the key 44 may be moved to and from punch activating position. At its inner end, each key lever 41 is provided with a pointed extension 47, the upper edge of which is shaped to engage the lower end of the corresponding punch bar 28 and act as a cam for raising the punch bar to an activated position as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In its activated position, the punch bar 28 is raised to a point such that the shoulder 48 formed by the recess 31 is raised above the bottom of the corresponding punch 11 and into alignment with the front edge of the punch. The upward movement is limitedby the bottom of the slot 39 as it is moved against the mounting rod 29.

An upwardly extending lug 49 is formed upon each key lever 41 to extend upwardly above the pivot rod 42, and is provided with notches 50 and 51 arranged to engage a spring detent 52 for resisting displacement of the key lever from one position to another. The detents 52 are mounted in a bar 53 extending longitudinally of the main housing 1 in spaced parallel relation to the lever mounting rod 42.

In Fig. 4, the nearest punch bar 28 is shown in its activated position as effected by depression of the nearest key lever 41 and its actuating key 44. The other punch bars, key levers, and keys are indicated in their normal inactive position. A separate key lever 41 and actuating key 44 is provided for each punch 11 and punch bar 28. For the coding system illustrated, the keys 44 are arranged in groups of four, each group being operable to code notch a corresponding coding area of a card 19. Ten groups of the keys are illustrated, but the number of groups and the arrangement of keys may of course be varied to meet varying requirements. Indicia, as for example the numerals 1, 2, 4 and 7, may be applied to the key buttons 46 so that each may be clearly identified with the punch controlled thereby. Once set, the key levers 41 and punch bars 28 remain in activated position until purposely returned to inactive position.- For that purpose, a release button 54 is mounted over each group of keys 44. The release buttons are operable through openings in the top of the main housing 1, and engage return plates 55 pivoted, as at 56, on the underside of the housing top to extend between the release buttons 54 and the upper ends of punch bars 28. Downward pressure applied to a button 54 will force any activated punch bars downwardly until the upper ends of the openings 30 seat on the mounting bars 29. Downward movement of a punch bar 28 causes pivotal movement of its key lever 41'against the resistance of its detent 52, thereby causing the keylever and its actuating key to be restored to normal inactive position, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The punch bars 28are also arrangedto be selectively activated for aperture punching operation independently of their activation by the key levers 41 and keys 44. For this purpose, a punch control slide 58 is mounted in association with each punch bar 28. The slides 58 rest upon a cross bar 59 extending between the ends of the main housing 1, and are movable longitudinally and upwardly relative thereto in slots formed in a guide comb 61 secured to the bar 59.: The outer end of each ear-Ba rd;

slide 58ex'tends outwardly through a slot "intlie' front of the main housing 1, and is provided witha depending lug- 60 providing a finger hold by which the slides may be-readily moved to and from punch activating position. Notches 62 and 63 are formed in the lower edge of each slide 58 to engage the edge of the housing 1 over which the slides project as they extend through the slot 57, said notches defining the activating and inactive positions of the slides respectively. A cover 64 is pivoted uponthe front of the housing 1, immediately over the slot 57 through which the slides 8 extend, upon a pivot rod 66. A downwardly depending flange 67 is formed on the inner side of the cover to provide a stop limiting'upward movement of the slides 58, and preventing displacement thereof from their activating or inactive positions while the cover is in its normal shielding position indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The inner end of each slide 58 is provided with a pointed and downwardly onset extension 68, the upper edge 69 of which provides a suitable surface for lifting the punch bar 28 associated therewith to activated'po'si- 'tion. The under edge of each extension 68 is movable to engage the bail rod 71 mounted upon bail anns'lz pivoted upon a shaft 73 extending between the; ends of the main housing 1. The inclined upper edge 690i each extension 68 is arranged to engage a stud 74' secured upon the lower end of an extension 75 projecting downwardly from the connecting link 36 by which the corresponding punch bar 28 is connected to its'cra'nk 39.

The free end of One of the bail arms 72 is nonnally engaged (as shown in Fig. 3) by a' latch' member 76 pivoted upon a stud 77 secured to the adjacent endo'f the housing 1. The latch member 76 is. provided with a shoulder 78 normally urged into seated engagement with a projection 79 upon the inner end of the associated bail arm 72 by means of a tension spring 81, one end of which is anchored to a fixed stud'82 secured-to the housing, and the other to the latch member.

- Movement of the bail arm 72, and the latch member 76 associated therewith, is controlled by abellcrank83 mounted upon a stud 84 secured to the housing 1 in association with the arm 72 and its associated latch member 76. The bell crank 83 in turn is controlled and actuated by means of a timing cam 86 secured iuass'ociation therewith upon a timing shaft 87 .jo-urnaled in'the ends o'fzthe main housing 1. The timing shaft 87 is motor driven from the main motor drive shaft 3 by achain 88 engaging sprockets 89 and 90 secured upon the shafts 3 and 87 respectively. The sprockets 89 and 90 are arrangedto drive the timing shaft 87 at one half the speed of the motor drive shaft 3, so that two full rotations. of the shaft 3 will be necessary to cause one complete revolution of the timing shaft 87.

One arm of the bell crank 83 is provided with a cam engaging roller 91 positioned in engagement with the timing cam 86. The otherend of the bell crank 83 is provided with a stud 92. A tension spring 93 is anchored at one end to the crank stud 92, and at its otherend to a stud 94 on the bail arm 72 associated therewith. A link 96 is connected at its lower end to the stud 94, and .at its upper end to the stud 92. The upper end of the connecting link 96 is provided with an elongated stud engaging slot 97 for engaging the crank stud 92. The spring 93 is operable to apply an upward pull against the boil arm 72. The engagement of the stud 92 with .slot 97 of link 96 limits the relative movement of the bail arm 72 and bell crank 83, and permits independent movement of the arm 72 when released by the latch member 76. v

The bell crank 83 is arranged to engage a stud 98 secured upon an upwardly extending arm 99 carried by latch 76. As the bell crank 86 is swung to its extreme limit of movement in a clockwise direction, the depending arm engages the stud 98 and displaces the" latch suflicie'ntl-y to cause the shoulder 78" to disengagethe b'ail punches 1 1.

aint-72E When soreleas'ed, the tension of the spring 93 causes-thearin 72 and bail rod 71 to 'swing'upwardly. Activated slides 58'are thereby swung upwardly to apply upward pressure against the adjacent stud 74, and thereby raise the corresponding connecting links 36, and the punch bars 28lattac'hed thereto, to the raised activated position shown in'Fig; 8. The cam 86 is tirned'with respect to the oscillation of the crank shaft 8 and cranks 39 so that the bail arms will be released by the latch. member 76' in'time to permit-the selected'hole punching punches to be actuated coincidentally with the cutting movement of thepunches activated for. notch cutting operation as they'are moved to make the second cutting stroke of a two strokenotching cycle."

As the high point 101. of the cam 86' clears the roller 91, the bell crank 83 is movedin a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.3 of the drawing, by a tension spring 102. This movement of the-bell crank forces the stud 92 to the bottom of the slot 97 in the link 96, and thereafter forces the bail arms 72. downwardly to a position where-the latchmern'b'er 76 will be moved by the spring 81 to again engage the extension 79 under the shoulder 78of the latchm'ember'. Since the timing shaft 87 and timing cam 86 are rotated at only half the speed of thelcrank shaft 8, thelatch m mber 76 will be mo-v'edto release the bail arms 72 and elevate punch bars 28, which have been selectivelyactivated for hole punching, for cutting movement only during alternate strokes of the cranks 39.

The several punches 11 are positioned in align-merit and are operable to cut away portions of the card 19 .through the card at points spaced from the edge of the card, provision has been made for permitting the position of the. card to be shifted between thefirst and second strokes of each notch cutting cycle. For this purpose, a plurality of card supporting pins are slidably mounted in guide openings 166 formed in the rearward side ofthe die 12 and thedie plate 17. The pins are arranged tonornrall-y extend fronrthe back of the die assembly across the notch 18 to points between adjacent .The support pins 105 are. normally urged toward their {advanced position. crossing the slot 12' by springs 107 mounted over the outwardly extending ends of the rods between a washer 108 securedto each pin, and a washer 109slida'bly engaging the pin and seating against the inner side of an actuating bar llti extending laterally from the upper end of a bell crank 111 pivotally mounted upon a card positioner shaft 112. The outer endsof the'eard supporting pins 105 extend through the bar 110, a'nd a retaining washer 113 is secured to the outwardly extending end of each pin 165. The bell crank 111 is provided with an arm on which is mounted a roller 114' engaging a cam 1-16 secured to the timing shaft 87. The bell crank 111 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Pig. 3, to hold the roller 114 in engagement with the cam 116 by tensionspr'ing 117. i A

The earn 116 is so shaped that, for the major portion of eachtwo' stroke cycle of the timing shaft 87, the pins will be moved outwardly to clear the slot 118, as shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings. During the remainder of the rotation of the cam 116, the bell cranks 111 are moved to urge the pins 105 to card supporting position crossing'the slot 18, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings. The pins 105 are axially movable outwardly position by the card 19 without injury. to the card until thecard can be removed. The support pins 105 are spacednt intervals along the length of the die assembly 12 to provide support forcards of various length placed in the slot at any desired point along its length.

During the initial stroke of the two stroke notch-cutting cycle, the support pinsare advanced to cross the slot 18 and support the card 19 in an elevated position such that activated punches 11 will notch the lower edge of the card to a depth equal to the thickness of the punches. As the punches 11 are withdrawn after the first cutting stroke thereof, the support pins 105 are retracted so that the card 19 may be pressed downwardly to the bottom of the slot 18 for exposing different areas of the card to the cutters. The. diameter of the pins 105 substantially equals the vertical dimension of the punches 14 so that, on the second cutting stroke, each of the punches activated for'notching operation will cut away an area in alignment with the initially cut notch so that the depth of the notch will be doubled. Punches activated for punching apertures, but not activated for notching, are actuated only after the support pins are withdrawn, and hence punch holes spaced from the lower edge of the card.

The switch mechanism for controlling the motor drive of Patent No. 2,035,777 operates to interrupt the rotation of the main motor drive shaft after one full revolution of the shaft which is all that is required to complete the one stroke cutting cycle as contemplated by that patent. Since the present machine contemplates a two stroke notch cutting cycle, it is necessary for the main drive shaft 3 to make two full revolutions in order to oscillate the cranks 39 to move activated punches through two cutting strokes for each complete notch cutting cycle. To maintain the motor in operation through two revolutions of the main drive shaft 3, and to interrupt the operation upon completion of the second stroke of each notch cutting cycle, the machine of the present invention is provided with a cycle control slide 121 operating in conjunction with the motor control switch'by which the machine is manually energized for notching and punching successive cards as they are placed in the slot 18. This mechanism includes a motor control bar 122 slidably mounted at one end of the housing 1, and provided with a cap 123 secured to the upper end thereof in line with the banks of keys 7.

The motor bar 122 is provided with an inturned flange 124 which engages a stud 126 upon the outer end of a crank arm 127 secured to a motor control shaft 128 journaled in the ends of the main housing 1. Latch actuating arm 129 is secured to the end of the shaft 128 and is provided with latch member 131 pivotally secured to the arm by means of stud 132. The lower end of the latch member 131 is provided with actuating shoulder 134 and latch displacing cam surface 135. The shoulder 134 is arranged to normally engage the end of crank arm 136 secured to a shaft 137 connected to the motor control switch. Also secured to the shaft 137 as depicted in Fig. 12, is a crank arm 137' carrying at its other end a pin 138' received in a slot 139' formed in a link 140. The link is connected at its opposite end by means of a pin 141 to a clutch trip arm 142 carried by a clutch trip shaft 143 projecting from a gear housing 151', and to a spring 144' whose other end is received by one end of a lever 145' mounted on a pin 146' supported by the motor housing 147'. The other end of the lever 145' is connected by a link 148' with a bell crank 149' whose opposite end actuates amotor switch 150'. Accordingly, when the shaft137 is oscillated, the clutch is tripped and the motor switch is closed, the slot 139 permitting the shaft 137 to assume its initial position even though the machine has not completed its cycle. A downwardly extending motor control arm 138 is secured to the shaft 137, and is provided with a stud 139 pivotally connecting the cycle control slide 121 to the control arm. A tension spring 141 anchored upon a stud 142 secured to the housing 1-is secured to the latch member 131, and normally urges the latch member 131 into latching engagement with the crank arm 136, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The inner end-of the control slide 121 is provided with alongitudinally disposed slot 143 slidably engaging a stud 144 secured to the adjacent end of the housing 1-. At the inner endof the slot 143, an ofiiset recess 145 is provided to receive the stud 144 and to provide a detent against which the slide may be held. A tension spring 146 is anchored at one end to the housing 1, and at the other .to the stud 139 carried by the control arm 138. The spring 146 normally urges the slide 121 toward the right as shown in'Fig. 3 of the drawings. A tension spring 147 is connected at one end to the extreme inner end of the'control slide 121 and at the other to an anchor pin 148, for normally urging the inner end of the slide upwardly against the stud 144.

When the motor bar 122 is pressed down, the flange 124 exerts a downward pressure upon the stud 126, and thereby swings the crank arm 127 downwardly in' a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5. This movement of the crank 127 is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the arm 129, thereby causing the latch members 131 to impart a corresponding pivotal movement to the crank arm 136 by reason of the engagement of shoulder 134 with the end of said crank arm to rotate the shaft 137 clockwise to close the motor control switch and energize the motor. At the same time a corresponding movement is imparted to the control arm 138 through the-rotation of the shaft 137, thereby moving the cycle control slide 121-against the tension of the spring 146 until the shoulder 149 adjacent the recess 145 clears the stud 144, and permits the slide to be moved upwardly by the spring 147 to the latched position indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The slide 121 remains in the latched position and thereby retains-the control arm 138 and the shaft 137 connected thereto in their circuit closing positions until the slide is released by the action of the cam 86. Such release is caused by a stud 151 secured upon the cam 86 'for movement against the upper edge 152 of the slide arm 121. The stud 151 is so positioned upon the cam 86 that it will engage the slide 121 and cause release thereof after the drive motor has started the second revolution of the two stroke cycle through which the crank arm 39 and crank shaft 8 are moved to impart notch cutting movement to selected punches 11. Once started, the motor continues its rotation until it has completed thefull 360 of movement necessary to actuate the punches through a cutting stroke. Since the cam 86 rotates at only half the speed of the motor shaft 3, the slide 121 will hold the control arm 138 in circuit closing position as the motor drive completes its first rotation for moving the punches on the first cutting stroke of their cycle, and the motor will remain energized for initiating the second cutting stroke, regardless of whether the motor bar is held down or released.

The initial downward movement of the motor bar to initiate a card cutting cycle, causes the cam edge of the latch member 131 to engage a fixed stud 153 so positioned on the housing 1 that the latch member 131 will be swung out of engagement with the arm 136 substantially at the same time the stud 144 is engaged by the recess 145. Thereafter it is immaterial whether the motor bar is held down or not, because the circuit will be kept closed until the motor has completed a second complete revolution and the control slide 121, the motor control arm 133 and the shaft 137 have been released to normal starting position. In event the operator should fail to release the motor bar, the latch member 131 will remain inactive, and the mechanism cannot be started along a second cycle until the motor bar is returned to its initial starting position.

In operation, a card 19 provided with coding areas 156, which in turn are subdivided into sections separately designated by indicia 157, is placed in cutting position inthe slot '18. When first inserted, the card will rest upon the supporting pins 105, with the lower edge of the card aligned with the lawer edges of the several punches 11. The stop 26 is secured in adjusted posi-' tion along the chute 25 so that the card may be positioned with the subdivisions of the coding areas accurately aligned with the punches 11. 'The stop 26 may of course be moved to any position along the chute 25 to'accornmodate cards of various length so as to align desired coding areas with desired groups of punches.

Before a card is placed in position, or after it is so placed but before the mechanism is set into operation; selected punch activating keys 44'are pressed downwardly to activate those punches and punch bars which are operable to notch the card at desired coding points along its edge. As illustrated, the keys of each group correspond to the digits 1, 2, 4 and 7 which comprise the indicia 157 for each coding area of the card. By depressing desired keys in each .group, any digit can be coded in any coding areaalong the edge of the card, by cutting notches at'properly selected points. At the same time, apertures may be punched out of the card in any of the sections of the several coding areas which are not to be notched; This is accomplished by raising the cover 64 and pressing inwardly the control levers 58 corresponding to the positions where apertures are to be cut. All or. any desired number of the slides 58 may be moved to activating position, as the movement of a slide 58 to activating position for punching an aperture will haveno effect on the operation of punches which have previously been activated for the notching operation.

After the desired punches ll and punch bars 28 have been activated for notching or punching apertures in the card, and the card has been placed in punching positio'n the motor bar 122' is pressed down to initiate the cutting cycle. As the motor bar 122 is depressed, motor shaft 3 will be energized and set into motion, and connecting rod 6 will be moved to impart an oscillating movement to the crank shaft 8. At the same time; timing shaft 87 with the cams 86 and 116 carried thereby, will be rotated at half the speed of. themotor shaft 3. As the cranks 39 swing from left to right, as viewed in- Fig. 3 of the drawings, those punch bars 28 which have been activated by movement by a key 44 to the raised position shown in Fig. 4, will be swing from leftto right through a corresponding'movement. The shoulder provided at the lower edge of the recess31 ineach activated bar 28 will press against its punch 14 and advance it along its cutting stroke to cut out a notch in the edge of the card to a depth equal to the depths of the die, as illustrated in Fig; 7 of the drawings. During this first cutting stroke of the cycle, only those punches and punch bars which have been activated by the depression of keys 44 will be moved through the cuttingstroke to theposition indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

After completion of. the initialv cutting stroke, and as the punches and punch bars are restored to starting position, the high area.161 of the cam 116 will engage the roller 114 and displace the bell crank 111 in a clockwise direction sufliciently to move the card supporting pins. 105 from under the card, thereby permitting the card'to be moved down to the bottom of the sl'ot l8 as:

shownin Fig. 8 of the drawings.

At the same time, the cam 86 is moved to begin clock wise displacement of the bell crank 83. Displacement of the crank.83 by thecam 86 does not immediately afiect punch bars 28 activated for cutting apertures because the stud 92 isfree to move upwardly along the slot 97 of the connecting link 96. However, before the second cutting stroke is started, the depending arm of the bell crank 83 is advanced against the stud 98 and displaces the latch shoulder 78 from the end of the bail arm 72. As soon as the bail arms 72 are released, they are swung upwardly by the spring 93. The bail rod 71" is carried upwardly withthe 'arms' 'a'nd' displacesacti-T- vated slides'58, which in turn exert lifting pressure against the studs 74 carried by' the connecting rodextensions 75. This action causesthe punch bars 28, to-which'the displaced connecting rods 36 are pivoted, to' be raised to the activated position indicated in Fig. 8 of the draw ings. When now the cranks 39 are oscillated through the second cutting stroke of the notching cycle; all ot the activated punch bars 28 will be swung againsttheir respective punches 14, and will force those punches through the card. t I

Punches activatedby thekeys 44 are cperatedto'cut shallow notches 158'by the first stroke of the notching cycle, and by the second stroke cutqthe' same areas'ito a greater depth, as indicated at 159, due to the lowering.

of the card between the cutting cycles." The punches and punch bars 28 activated by the slides 58 which were inactive during the first cutting stroke, are moved by the second stroke to cut apertures 160 spacedfrom the edge of the card as indicated in Fig. 10 of lthe-d'rawings. When certain selected punches have been addvated by thekeys 44 and other selected punches have been activated by the slides 58, the edge of the card'wil-l be both notched and punched as indicated in Fig. 9'; If only the slides 58 are utilized for activating punches 14 and punch bars 28, withou't depressing anyof the punch keys 44, the edge of the card will be punched with apertures only, as indicated in Fig. 10- of the draw ings; IfInone of the slides 58 are activated, only notches 159 willbe' cut at selected points, as illustratedin Fig"; 11 of the drawings.

Asthe second cutting stroke of the notcliing cycle is completed, the'high point of the cam S6passes' the roller 91 on the bell crank83, and permits it't'o swing back tostarting position. This-moves the stud 92 down wardly to the-bottom of tlieslot' 97 of the link96 and thereafter causesthe bail arm's 72 to bedepressed by the link 96 to the normal starting position. At thesame time, the depending arm of the crank- 83 disengages the stud 98 and permits the latch arm 76 to be swung back into locking engagement with the endof the bail arms 72. Shortly thereafter, at a moment marking the end of the'two stroke cycle, the stud 151 is moved onto the upper edge 152 of the control slide 121 and depresses the slide out of engagement with the retaininglug 144.1 The slide 121 is immediately returned to its startingposi-'- tion by the-spring 146, and the control arm 138' is' thereby moved to motor circuit breaking position.

Near the end of the second stroke ofthe cutting" cycle, the low area of the cam 116 is moved under the roller 1140f crank 111, which is then moved by spring- 117' to relieve the displacing pressure from the card sup ort: ing pins 105. This movement of the crank 11 permits the pins to be urged toward their card supporting" position by the springs 107. Until-the card 19 is r'emoved from the slot 18, the pins '105'will bearagainst the card without marring it. When the card is with-' drawn from the slot, the pins spring into posi'tion a'cross the bottom of the slot to'support the next card in ele-' vated starting position.

The activated punches and punch bars remain activated until manually restored to inactive position. This" permits a number of cards to be coded alike without resetting various keys and slides. When the coding is to bechanged, the release buttons 54 correspondingto groups ofpunchkeys which have previously. been-activated, are pressed downwardly to restore the punch'bars' 28 t0 their normal inactive position; This movement causes-thekey-Ievers'41 to be swung about the pivot rod 42' p'a'st thejdetent' 52, and the'keys 44 associated therewith are returned to normal raised position. A single release button 54 is provided for each group of four keys 44 by which the punches for a single coding area are activated. Punches and punch levers activated by the slide bars 58 for cutting apertures may be restored to inactive position by raising the cover 64 and withdrawing the activated slides 58 to normal inactive position.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: e v v v l. A card notching and punching machine comprising a card support, a plurality of punches having a path of movement adjacent said card support, said punches being operable to cut away portions of a card positioned upon the support, means for selectively activating desired punches for operation through a two stroke cycle to cut notches in the card, means for selectively activating other punches for operation during the second stroke only of the two stroke cycle, means for actuating the activated punches through cutting strokes in conformity with their selective activation, and means for shifting said card support away from the path of movement of said punches between strokes.

2. A card notching and punching machine comprising a cardsupport, a plurality of punches having a path of movement adjacent said card support, said punches being operable to cut away portions of, a card positioned upon the support, means for selectively activating desired punches for notching an edge of the card, means for selectively activating other punches for cutting apertures spaced from said edge, means for actuating the notching punches through a two stroke notch cutting cycle, means for actuating the aperture cutting punches through a single cutting stroke coincident with the second of the notch cutting strokes, and means for shifting said card support away from the path of movement of said punches between strokes.

3. A card notching and punching machine comprising a card support, a plurality of punches having a path of movement adjacent said card support, said punches being operable to cut away portions of a card positioned upon the support, means for selectively activating desired punches for operation through a two stroke cycle to cut notchesin an edge of the card, means for selectively activating other punches for operation coincidentally with the second stroke only of the notch cutting cycle while remaining inactive during the other stroke thereof, and means operating in timed relation to the movement of the punches for automatically displacing portions of the support to permit shifting of the card in a plane normal to the path of movement of the punches between successive strokes of the notch cutting cycle. 4. A card notching and punching machine comprising a card support, a plurality of punches having a path of movement adjacent said card support, said punches being operable to cut away portions along an edge of a card positioned upon the support, means for selectively activating desired punches for operation through a two stroke cutting cycle to cut notches at predetermined points along the card edge, means for selectively activating other punches for operation through one stroke cycle coincident with the second of the notching cutting strokes, motor operated drive means'for actuating the selected cutters through their cutting cycles, means movable to permit the position of the card to be shifted away from the path of movement of the punches in a plane normal thereto between successive cutting strokes of the notching punches, and means for automatically interrupting the motor drive after completion of each notching cycle.

5. A card notching and punching machine comprising card'supporting means operable to support a card in normal and shifted positions during a. cutting operation, a plurality of punches movable to cut through an edge of the card when supported in either position, means for selectively activating desired punches, means for actuating the activated punches through two successive strokes,

means operating automatically in timed relation to the punch actuating means automatically shifting the card from normal to shifted position between successive strokes of the activated punches to present diiferent areas of the card to the punches whereby shallow notches cut by the first stroke of the activated punches are cut to greater depth by a second stroke thereof during a two stroke cutting cycle, means for selectively activating other of said punches, and means for actuating said other punches coincidently with the second stroke only of the cycle to cut apertures spaced from the edge of the card in line with the inner ends of the notches.

6. A card notching and punching machine comprising aplurality of punches independently operable to cut away areas along a coding edge of a card, die means associated with the punches, means for selectively actuating the punches through a two stroke cycle, card supporting plungers mounted in connection with the die, plunger actuating means connected by a lost motion connection with the plungers, said plungers being normally springbiased relative to said plunger actuating means toward an initial card supporting position, cam means operated in timed relation to the operation of the punches for moving said plunger actuating means to move the card supporting plunger to a retracted position releasing the card for movement to a second cutting position offset from the initial position between strokes, said lost motion connection permitting the return of said plunger actuating means to its normal position upon release thereof by said cam without returning said plungers until said card is removed.

7. In a card notching and punching machine provided with a plurality of punches operable to cut through a card supported in cutting position relative thereto, means for selectively activating punches for cutting notches in the card through two strokes of a punching cycle, means for selectively activating other punches for cutting apertures through the card during the second stroke only of the two stroke cycle, motor actuated means for reciprocating the activated punches, a motor control lever mounted in association with the motor actuated means, a latch bar connected to the motor control lever movable to latch-. ing position for holding said lever in a motor energizing position, cam means actuated in timed relation to the reciprocation of the punches for releasing the latch and control lever to motor inactivating position upon completion of a two stroke cycle of the notch-cutting punches, card supporting means for initially holding the card in notch cutting position, and means for retracting the sup-. porting means between the first and second strokes of each notch cutting cycle.

8. A card notching and punching machine for coding record cards comprising, a plurality of punches, a plurality of punch actuators each movable from an inactive position to an active position in line with one of said punches, means for actuating said punch actuators through. two cycles of operation, means selectively operative to activate each of said punch actuators to cause punching movement of its associated punch during both cycles of operation of said actuators, separate means selectively operative to activate each of said punch actuators to cause punching movement of its associated punch during only the second of the cycles of operation of said actuators, and means for moving said record card in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said punches between the two cycles of said punch actuators.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,940 Braun June 23,v 1953 

